Mr Hodge, 33, came across the tragic scene at around 9pm while travelling back to his home in Bisley following a ride on his motorcycle.

He said people were standing around the biker trying to call the police and ambulance.

"But I just got straight into dealing with the injured party," he told Get Surrey. "I'm an ex-serviceman so it is second nature to me."

Mr Hodge said he administered CPR and any other first aid that could be done.

"I was talking to the paramedics over the phone so it was all correct," he added. "You always do as much [CPR] as you can. You keep going until you're told to stop or someone takes over. My job was to keep that heart going and that's all I did.

"To be honest I didn't count the time until the paramedics turned up.

"All that was on my mind was to save a life. I was doing everything and anything in my power to save his life - it is part of the career that I've had."

Mr Hodge was a lance corporal in the Staffordshire Regiment, joining the Army in 1998 and leaving in 2007. He saw operational service in Iraq and Kosovo, working as an infantry photographer and with intelligence teams.

Efforts praised

"Everyone in the Army gets first aid training," said Mr Hodge, an odd-job man who also owns an ex-racehorse that he rides and takes to county shows and competitions.

"As a fellow biker and ex-serviceman I was pretty quick to do my utmost to make sure that the rider had a chance until the paramedics arrived and took over.

"I did not leave that scene until he was pronounced.

"I did not know the biker but I will stand by my rule - always stop [at the scene of a crash] no matter what."

But Mr Hodge said he did not want to be classed as a hero.

"I'm just a person who was there to help," he said.

Mr Hodge returned to the crash site on Wednesday evening (June 18) to lay his bike gloves, a patch from his jacket and some flowers on the spot of the accident.

"It hit me hard and brought back the vivid memory of it all but we must be strong to fight another day," he said.

Mr Hodge's actions have been praised by Ross Turner, a close friend of Mr North's.

"He's a credit to everyone," said Mr Turner. "He tried to perform life-saving CPR but unfortunately there was too much for Simon to do.

"It is such a shame but you've got to take your hat off to him for diving in there and seeing what he could do.

"That's the sort of thing Dan would have done - he would have been there for you."

Anyone who saw the incident or has any information is asked to call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference P14174459.

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.